Exodus 38:1-7: a reflection

1He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. It was square. Its length was five cubits, its width was five cubits, and its height was three cubits. 2He made its horns on its four corners. Its horns were of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with bronze. 3He made all the vessels of the altar: the pots, the shovels, the basins, the forks, and the fire pans. He made all its vessels of bronze. 4He made for the altar a grating of a network of bronze, under the ledge around it beneath, reaching halfway up. 5He cast four rings for the four corners of bronze grating, to be places for the poles. 6He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with bronze. 7He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to carry it. He made it hollow with planks.

As the tabernacle is built, the altar of burnt offering, the place of sacrifice where atonement was made, is constructed with rings and poles so that it could be carried. He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, the account says, with which to carry it. The altar was not fixed in one place; it was made portable, so that the place of sacrifice and atonement could travel with the people wherever they journeyed through the wilderness. This is worth noticing: God provided a way of approaching him, a place of atonement, that went with his people wherever they went. They were never without the means of coming to God, of atonement, for it traveled with them. God's provision for approaching him was not tied to one place but accompanied his people on their journey. The place of atonement traveled with God's people wherever they went. God's provision for coming to him went with his people. The means of approaching God accompanied them on their journey.

Notice the portability of the altar: it was made to be carried, to go with the people. The place of sacrifice, where atonement was made and the people drew near to God, was not fixed in one location but built to travel, so that wherever Israel journeyed, the means of approaching God went with them. They were never left without a way to come to God, without the place of atonement; it accompanied them through all their wanderings. This is a picture of God's provision for his people: that the way to approach him, to find atonement, is not confined to one place we must reach, but is provided to be with us wherever we are. And it points forward to Christ, our atonement, who is not confined to one place but is with his people everywhere, the way to God accessible wherever we are. We are never without a way to come to God; his provision for approaching him accompanies us. The place of atonement traveled with Israel; and in Christ, our way to God is with us wherever we go. God's provision for coming to him is not tied to one place but goes with us. Wherever we are, the way to God is near.

That is worth resting in, for God's provision for approaching him is not confined to one place but goes with his people wherever they are. We can feel that access to God is tied to a particular place we must reach, that we can only come to him in certain locations; but the altar of atonement was made to travel with Israel, and in Christ our way to God is with us wherever we go. We are never without a way to come to God; his provision accompanies us. When you feel far from any place of worship, remember that in Christ the way to God is with you wherever you are. Rest in the truth that God's provision for approaching him is not confined to one place but goes with his people wherever they are, as the altar of atonement was made portable to travel with Israel through the wilderness, and in Christ our atonement the way to God is with us everywhere; for we are never left without a way to come to God, since his provision for approaching him is not tied to a single location we must reach but accompanies us on our journey, fulfilled in Christ who is with his people wherever they are, so that wherever we find ourselves, the way to God is near and we can come to him.

Lord, as the tabernacle is built, the altar of burnt offering, the place of sacrifice where atonement was made, is constructed with rings and poles so that it could be carried. He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, the account says, with which to carry it. The altar was not fixed in one place; it was made portable, so that the place of sacrifice and atonement could travel with the people wherever they journeyed. This is worth noticing: you provided a way of approaching you, a place of atonement, that went with your people wherever they went. They were never without the means of coming to you. Show me the portability of the altar: it was made to be carried, to go with the people. The place of sacrifice, where atonement was made and the people drew near to you, was not fixed in one location but built to travel. They were never left without a way to come to you; it accompanied them through all their wanderings. This is a picture of your provision for your people: that the way to approach you is not confined to one place we must reach, but is provided to be with us wherever we are. And it points forward to Christ, our atonement, who is with his people everywhere. I am never without a way to come to you. Let me rest in that, for your provision for approaching you is not confined to one place but goes with your people wherever they are. I can feel that access to you is tied to a particular place I must reach; but the altar of atonement was made to travel, and in Christ my way to you is with me wherever I go. When I feel far from any place of worship, help me remember that in Christ the way to you is with me wherever I am, Lord, so that wherever I find myself, the way to you is near and I can come to you.